The Embryotoxicity of Alpha-Pinene to the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio Hamilton, 1822)

The Alpha-pinene (AP) is produced by pine trees and other plants. The AP exhibits various biological activities such as the development of antimicrobial and antiviral agents, flavors, fragrances, and fungicidal agents. The toxicity data for AP are limited. This study aimed to determine the embryotoxic effects of AP in zebrafish embryos. 1.5 hpf zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations of AP for 72 hours. The LC50 and EC50 values for AP were determined as 441.360 mg/L and 367.795 mg/L, respectively. The embryos were not much affected by AP until hatching. In addition, AP showed teratogenic effects at high doses (320 and 640 mg/L). Typical lesions were an absence of somite (≤48 hpf), lordosis, yolk sac deformity, tail abnormality, cardiac edema, and eye shrinkage (≤ 72 hpf). However, survival rates of zebrafish embryos in the 20, 40, and 80 mg/L AP groups were greater than 80 % during the exposure period. Very low teratogenicity for zebrafish embryos was observed in the 160 mg/L AP group. The results show virtually no embryotoxicity and teratogenicity at 20 and 40 mg/L AP concentrations. No delay in developmental was also observed. Therefore, AP can be considered a safe compound in the concentrations. Keywords: Alpha-pinene, Embryotoxicity, EC50, LC50, Zebrafish